Entry requirements
Admission to Western Sydney University is on the basis of meeting minimum academic and English language requirements for your course.
Academic Entry Requirements
Admission to Western Sydney University is highly competitive and is on the basis of academic merit. International students are required to meet the same standards as Australian residents. The following qualifications are the minimum acceptable levels for eligibility and you should not assume that because you have met the minimum level you will be offered a place at the university. It should be noted that certain courses may have special or higher entry requirements.
These are general guides only. Refer to the online handbook (opens in a new window) for the specific requirements of each degree program. Some programs may also require evidence of relevant work experience.
Bachelor degrees (undergraduate study), Diploma and Foundation (Pathway to University)
Graduate Diploma
- A Bachelor degree, or
- An overseas qualification from a recognised university or tertiary institution that is equivalent to a Bachelor degree.
Masters degrees - postgraduate study
- A Bachelor degree, or
- An overseas qualification from a recognised university or tertiary institution that is equivalent to a Bachelor degree, or
- A Graduate Diploma from a recognised tertiary institution or university.
Research degrees
An applicant to the degree of Masters (Honours) must either hold:
- A Bachelor degree, or
- An overseas degree from a recognised university or tertiary institution that is equivalent to an Bachelor degree, or
- Qualifications that are recognised as equivalent to those listed above.
- A Masters degree by research, or
- A Bachelor (Hons) degree with Class 1 or Class 2 division 1 honours, or
- A demonstrated capacity for research in a discipline deemed to be acceptable to the university.
Please note:
All Research degree students must submit a Research Proposal with their Application for Admission.
This proposal will be assessed by senior academic staff for relevance to research programs, availability of appropriate supervisors, and the ability of the applicant to carry out high-level research. It may take several weeks before students receive approval. For more details, visit the Graduate Research School site.(opens in a new window)
English Language Entry Requirements
COVID-19 Temporary Admission Arrangements
With many English testing centres currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Western Sydney University will temporarily extend the time validity for existing approved official IELTS or TOEFL IBT English test scores to 3 years instead of 2 years before the intended intake commencement for programs requiring IELTS 6.5 or equivalent.
Changes have also been made to our list of approved English tests. Western will temporarily accept the following alternative English tests for programs requiring IELTS 6.5 or equivalent.
* IELTS Indicator Test
* TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition test* TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition test
* PTE Academic (Online)
* Duolingo (to be considered on a case by case basis)
The temporary arrangement applies to all intakes in 2022.
If you defer your offer to an intake other than listed above, you will be required to submit another English test from the approved English language entry requirements list.
Temporary arrangements do not apply to programs that require an IELTS overall score of 7.0 or equivalent.
This arrangement will be subject to a review once authorised testing centres reopen.
Please note, temporary English documentation arrangements above may not meet the English language requirement for your student visa application to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). It will be your responsibility to meet these requirements. Please check the DHA website for information.
All international students must have a good command of written and spoken English.
If your first language is English or if you can provide satisfactory evidence that English was the medium of instruction in your secondary or tertiary studies (secondary or tertiary studies completed within 3 years at the time of your commencement at Western Sydney University), you may be considered as meeting the requirement of proficiency in English.
If English is not your first language or was not the medium of instruction in your secondary or tertiary studies, you are required to demonstrate your proficiency in the English language by achieving a prescribed level in an approved English examination or test before you can receive a full offer of a place.
Your English language proficiency test must be no more than two years old at the time of your commencement at Western Sydney University.
For a full list of the English language equivalences, refer to the approved English language entry requirements (PDF, 61.16 KB).(opens in a new window)
| Program/ Discipline | IELTS (Academic version) | TOEFL internet-based score | Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All undergraduate, postgraduate and research courses (except the below) | 6.5 overall score, minimum 6.0 in each subtest | Total score 82 Writing 21, Speaking 18, Reading 13, Listening 13 | 58 overall; No communication skills less than 50 |
| B Nursing B Nursing (Advanced) M Nursing Practice (Preregistration) | 7.0 overall score, minimum 7.0 in each subtest | Total score 94 Speaking 23, Listening 24, Reading 24 and Writing 27 | 65 Overall; minimum 65 in each of the four skills Writing, Speaking, Listening and Reading in one sitting. |
| B Occupational Therapy B Health Science (Paramedicine) B Physiotherapy B Podiatric Medicine B Speech Pathology B Health Science (Sport & Exercise Science) | 7.0 overall score, minimum 6.5 in writing and reading, 7.0 in speaking and listening | Total score 94 Writing and Reading 24 Speaking and Listening 23 | 65 overall; minimum 58 in writing and reading, 65 in listening and speaking |
| Doctor of Medicine | 7.0 overall score, minimum 7.0 in each subtest | Total
score 100 Writing 27, listening and reading 24 and speaking 23 | 65 overall; minimum 65 in each of the four skills Writing, Speaking, Listening and Reading in one sitting. |
| Master of Teaching degrees | 7.5 overall score, minimum 7.0 in reading and writing, minimum 8.0 for speaking and listening | Total score 105 | 78 overall; Speaking 79; |
| Master of Social Work (Qualifying) | 7.0 overall score, minimum 6.5 in each subtest | Total score 94 Writing 24; and subtests 22 | 65 overall; minimum 58 in each of the four skills Writing, Speaking, Listening and Reading in one sitting. |
| Master of Professional Psychology and Master of Clinical Psychology | 7.0 overall score, minimum 7.0 in each subtest | Total score 100 Writing 27, listening, reading and speaking 22 | 65 Overall; minimum 65 in each of the four skills Writing, Speaking, Listening and Reading in one sitting. |
| The College diplomas | 6.0 overall score, minimum 5.5 in each subtest | Total score 70 Writing 20; Speaking 16; Listening and Reading 11 | 50 overall; No communication skills less than 42 |
| The College University Foundation Studies/Diploma Extended | 5.5 overall score, minimum 5.0 in each subtest | Total 59 score Writing 17; listening and reading 7; speaking 15 | 42 overall; No communication skills less than 40 |
| The College University Foundation Studies (Health Science and Nursing) | 6.5 overall score, minimum 6.0 in each subtest | Total 82 score Writing 21; Listening 13; Reading 13; Speaking 18. | 58 overall; No communication skills less than 50 |
What if I don't meet the entry requirements?
If you do not meet the entry requirements at Western Sydney University, you can prepare yourself for university entry at The College.(opens in a new window)
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